Page 54 of Master's Rise
I really like these two. I point to a fat marker hanging on a string from the wall. He nods taking the clipboard and marker down. “I’ll come find you if something doesn’t match or show on the paperwork.”
“Thank you very much. My chicken should be ready to come out soon. The whole day has been a little off.”
“I hope we can get it back to on.”
I turn, smiling at my Norse God. “Thank you. I just put the last of the chicken in the oven.”
He kisses my head. Jinx opens the back of the truck and the Prospects jump in. I look at Cort. “They know what they’re doing.”
He nods. “They work the liquor stores.”
“I need to check my ovens. Thank you for getting my supplies. Is this an ongoing thing? Should I get a new supplier?”
He walks with me. “The boss checked your order before it left. This was the driver and his brother. We’ll deal with that. Your orders will come with a driver the boss trusts. No more problems.”
That is such good news. “I’m going to need to at least double my next few orders. It should level off, but right now it’s new to the Brothers.”
He’s shaking his head no. “More Brothers are coming in and we’ll be rotating training classes regularly. If anything, you might need to go to two deliveries a week. I’ll get Jinx to make sure they’re ready for the change.”
“On it, Boss.” We both look back seeing Jinx type on his phone.
I look at Cort’s smile. “We’re hungry. Some Brothers followed us in.” He shrugs as if Jinx following us isn’t any weirder than Beacon following me around and doubling my delivery schedule wasn’t just decided in half a second without projected sales or current sales numbers.
I got this. Okay. “I need to check on the ovens.” I leave them shaking my head.
Beacon stands against the wall between the kitchen and front counter. Every seat is covered in Brothers. Okay, so he’s right about the two deliveries. Holy mackerel!
Pulling my pans out, I rush to help the Prospect and poor Dana. We pop out subs quickly. Tory is working the pizza board looking comfortable. I offer help but she’s good with Crystal on the oven. The other Prospect is running food to the Brothers and Wayne looks happy at the register. It’s working well with regular crew scheduled. Life is weird. When it slows, I send the Prospects for lunch so they can eat with their Brothers.
Phone orders are coming in keeping us steady but not slammed. Watching the crew, I see smiles as they’re talking back and forth. No stress is always good. Sammy comes in smiling and takes a position by Dana.
“You did great, Dana.” I look at Sammy, “A bit of a rush but she kept up. She’s good at the details and special orders didn’t throw her.”
Sammy gushes all over Dana and I get chicken stored in containers. I’m not a good trainer. I don’t gush. Since I have people who do, I’m good with moving chicken.
“Seren!” Someone yells and I look up from the meatballs I started. Cort is at the pass-thru. I throw the gloves away walking toward him.
“I’m at the office. I’ll pick you up after work?” He mustn’t have checked the schedule.
I love that he asked. Looking back, I see Sammy making meatballs. Walking through, I take his hand and pull. “Yeah. Thank you for being you. I love that guy.” I kiss him letting him know I appreciate him being that guy.
He smiles pulling away and lifts me up turning around so my back is to the lobby. My legs go around his waist making that smile bigger. With a kiss to my head, he looks around.
“Brothers!” Everything gets quiet. My workers are smiling and watching. “This is Seren. I’m claiming her today as my ol’ lady. Her cut will be in later today.”
I swear the whole place erupts. Brothers bounce out of their chairs, people are yelling and I know I heard Sammy’s high-pitched screech in there. Cort kisses me until my brain stops working from lack of oxygen, then puts me down as men beat on his back and shake his hand in weird man holds. I have no idea what the hell is going on. Five minutes of this and I’m looking back at the kitchen.
Cort hasn’t let my hand go, but Victory comes in squealing and I’m free for three seconds. With a hug that has me almost as dazed as the kiss, I fight to get out. Freedom saves me by pulling me away, then pulling me in for a quick hug.
“Congratulations.” She’s smiling but not screaming, squealing or screeching.
“What is going on? Everything just erupted.” I take them all in quickly and shake my head. People will be waiting forever for pizza. Even the delivery guys are watching and chatting away. My life is crazy.
Freedom bends to talk in my ear. “He claimed you.”
I nod waiting for more. She pulls me to the back. Beacon smiles, which is rare. “Congratulations, Seren.”
I have no idea what the hell is happening and it’s happening to me. “Thanks?”
